Billionaire Mark Cuban Says He Doesn't Spoil His Kids And Tells Them 'It's My Money, Not Yours'

Billionaire Mark Cuban shared some candid insights about parenting on The Steam Room Podcast in November, hosted by Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson. When Barkley asked Cuban how he avoids spoiling his kids despite his massive fortune, Cuban responded with a phrase that's as sharp as it is simple: "It's my money, not yours."

It's a sentiment echoed by other wealthy parents, like Shaquille O'Neal, who famously said, "We ain't rich, I'm rich" and Bill and Melinda Gates, who emphasized a "middle-class upbringing" for their kids. But Cuban's take feels especially personal when you hear how he talks about his three kids.

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"You know what it's like," Cuban told Barkley. "Your kids – no, you think they're going to be like you and your wife, but they end up being their own little humans." He described his children’s unique personalities: "One takes advantage, the other two don't. The middle one rebels against it … and my son, the youngest, takes advantage a little bit of tech because he knows I'll give in."

Even so, Cuban insists on keeping things grounded at home. "They still have to wash dishes, they still have to clean up after themselves – most of the time," he said. While he acknowledges that it's not easy – "They're getting on a private plane most of the time and it's not like we can hide it from them" – he's determined to avoid the trap of throwing material things at them as a solution. "You're mad at me? Let me buy you something. You're sad? Let me buy you something. That's just not how it works."

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The conversation feels refreshingly human, especially coming from someone whose life seems anything but ordinary. It's one thing to talk about discipline when your kids are flying coach, but Cuban's perspective shows that the challenges of raising "grateful and great human beings," as Barkley put it, exist at every level.

It's a mindset shared by other high-profile figures like Shaq, who requires his kids to earn two degrees before they can access his wealth. The underlying principle? Wealth shouldn't define your kids but challenge them to find their paths.

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Back in 2014, Mark Cuban appeared on The Dave Ramsey Show and opened up about teaching kids the value of hard work. He also shared some of his biggest concerns as a parent. "Their health is number one, my number one fear and then just not being jerks is number two," Cuban said.

Mark Cuban's honesty about his parenting style – balancing privilege with responsibility – might not be a one-size-fits-all solution, but it's clear he's trying to do more than just raise rich kids. He's raising adults.

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